Combined table and screen



Nov. 20, 1934. LEHNER COMBINED TABLE AND SCREEN Filed April 11, 1954 Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFr1cE- COMBINED TABLE AND SCREEN Louis Lehner, Memphis, Tenn. 'y

Application April 11, 1934, Serial No. 720,004.`

7 claims. (o1. 311-3) My invention relates to furniture and particularly to a combination table and screen which is both useful and ornamental.

Card tables and the like have been constructed 51 heretofore having foldable legs to permit the table to occupy a smallv space for storage purposes. When not. employed as a table the foldable structure must be stored in an out-of-the-way space since the structure is rather unsightly. The table of the present invention is embodied with additional structure which renders the table available when folded to be employed as a screen which may be disposed as a fire screen to hide an unsightly replace or other objects.or portions of a l5" room.

The top of the table is ornamented, preferably by an interesting scene, which renders the structure attractive when employed as a screen, and which also enhances the appearance of the top of the table when employed as such.

To form the screen, additional legs are provided which are collapsible, to be hid from View and out of the way of the limbs of the people about the table. The legs are in a position to be readily disposed below and attached to one side of the table, to form a support for the top, which is then vertically disposed. 1n this manner, either set of legs may be extended to have the top disposed as on a table, or as for a screen; or both sets of legs may be folded so that the table may be readily stored.

The main objects of my invention are: toprovide a table having legs which are readily collapsible and a top which is preferably orna- 35` mental; to provide an additional set of collapsible legs which may be employed to retain the top in a vertical position to be utilized as a screen; to provide a set of collapsible legs for a frame which engage one of its side edges to sup- 40,A port the frame in a vertical position; and in general, to provide a frame with two sets of legs, which may be employed to form either a table or a screen, all of which is simple in construction, rigid in support and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out, or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a table embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the structure ily Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the* structure illustrated in Fig. 4 taken on the line 5 5 thereof. l

Fig. 6 is a. view or the table illustrated innig.

1 when collapsed and supported in vertical position by an auxiliary pair of legs, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged bro-ken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, taken on the line 7 7 thereof.

I have illustrated a table, in Fig. 1, of the collapsible type embodying a top 11, comprising 'a top element 12 and a side flange 13,` which is supported on legs 14, one of which is disposed at each corner of the top. The legs are of the co1- lapsible type being supported on hinges so'as to be foldable along the flanges 13 to a concealed position within the top 11.

lThe hinge 15 is a pressed metal stamping having a web portion 16 which is secured to the flange 13 by screws 17 and which is provided with an oifset web portion 18, parallel to theweb portion 16', which is anged to form web 21 disposed at degrees to the web 18, and secured toan adjacent flange 13 by screws 1'7. A tongue22 extends from the fiange 21 in a position to engage the oppositeside of the` leg 14to that engaged by the web 18 to increasethe lateral stability of the legs. The end of the leg 14 is pivoted to the end of the web 18 by a rivet 23 about which the leg is swingable.

A slotted cross link 24 has one end pivotally secured to the hinge 15 by a rivet 25 and the leg is provided with a pin 26 which is disposed within the slot 27 of the link. 'I'he pin 26, as will be noted in Fig. 3, has an annular shoulder 28 under the head with which an enlarged end 29 of the slot mates to form a lock and position the legs ninety degrees from the top. The links 24 are provided with an outward bias to cause the enlarged end of the slot to engage the shoulders 28 to automatically secure the legs in proper position. To fold the legs, it is only necessary to push the links 24 toward the legs and to fold the legs against the top.

The table top is preferably highly decorated to provide an attractive appearance so as to be ornamental when employed as a screen as hereinabove mentioned.

An auxiliary set of legs 31 is foldable on a brace 32 disposed under the table top and is entirely hidden from view when the top is employed as a lili) table. The set of legs 31 comprises square rectangular portions 33 having the projecting rod portions 34 which are preferably circular, having a Washer or like stop elements 35, secured to the end thereof. The portions 33 vare pivoted to the cross brace 32 by elements 36 which may be bolts, screws, rivets or the like, and about which the legs are rotatable.

Slidable upon the rod portion 34, are feet 37 containing a notch 38 which receive the ange 13 and the table top 12 therein. This is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 7, wherein the sides of the notches are provided with felt strips 39, or the like, which prevents the top and flange from becoming marred. A suitable clip 4l is mounted on the cross brace 32, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, for the purpose of receiving the rod portions 34 of the legs to support them-against the vbrace and to maintain the feet 37 in a position parallel to the top.

- Whenthe top isv employed as a table,'with the 'legs extended as in Fig. 1, the auxiliary setr of legs 31gis retained by the clip 41 against the underside of the table. When the top isemployed 'as a screen the legs 34 are rotated to a position parallel to the sides, adjacent to which they are fpivoted, and the feet 37 are rotated, to be disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of vthe top. The top is then moved downwardly so that the flange 13 and top element l2 is disposed within the notches 38 to form a support for the top when in a vertical position. In this position the top may be employed as a screen, ornamented by a. picture, painting or other attractive finish.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various 'changes omissions, additions and substitutions zontal position, rods pivoted to said top, feet slidable on said rods for extending beyond said top, said feet having notches which engage the side of the said top for supporting it in a vertical position.

3. A combination with a table top, of collapsible legs therefor for retaining the top in hori-` for folding said legs in a plane adjacent to the plane of the top, rods carried by said top, feet on said rods, said rods and feet being movable so as to have the feet engage an edge of the top for supporting the top in vertical position.

5. The combination with a table top, of legs for retaining the top in horizontal position, means for folding. said legs in a plane adjacent to thev plane of the top, rods carried by said top, feet on said rods, said feet having notches which engage the side of the top for supporting the top in vertical position when the feet and rods are' adjusted relative to said top. 1

6. The combination, with a table top, of legs for retaining the top in horizontal position, means for folding said legs in a plane adjacent to the plane of the top, rodsvcarriedby said top, feet on said rods, said rods and feet being movable as to have the `feet engage an edge of the top for supporting the top in vertical position, and means for supporting said feet andfrods adjacent to the underside of said top when the feet are released from the edges thereof.

7. The combination with a vtable top, of legs for retaining the top in horizontal position, means for folding said legslin a plane adjacent to the plane of the top, rods ycarried by said top, feet on said rods, said feet having notches Which en, gage a side of the top for supporting the top in vertical position when the feet and rods are adjusted relative to said top, and means for supporting said feet and rods adjacent to the under'-A side of said top'when the feet are released from the edges thereof.

- LOUIS LEHNER. 

